Synthesis of highbush blueberry pollination research reveals region-specific differences in the contributions of honeybees and wild bees
(2023) In Journal of Applied Ecology 60(12). p.2528-2539- Abstract
Highbush blueberry production has expanded worldwide in recent decades. To safeguard future yields, it is essential to understand if insect pollination is limiting current blueberry production and which insects contribute to pollination in different production regions. We present a systematic review including a set of meta-analyses on insect-mediated pollination in highbush blueberry. We summarize the geographic distribution of research, the abundance of different pollinator taxa and their relative pollination contributions. Using raw data from 21 studies, totalling 496 site replicates, we determine the degree of pollination service and pollen limitation (i.e. combining open pollination levels with experimental bagged and/or hand... (More)
Highbush blueberry production has expanded worldwide in recent decades. To safeguard future yields, it is essential to understand if insect pollination is limiting current blueberry production and which insects contribute to pollination in different production regions. We present a systematic review including a set of meta-analyses on insect-mediated pollination in highbush blueberry. We summarize the geographic distribution of research, the abundance of different pollinator taxa and their relative pollination contributions. Using raw data from 21 studies, totalling 496 site replicates, we determine the degree of pollination service and pollen limitation (i.e. combining open pollination levels with experimental bagged and/or hand pollination treatments), as well as the contribution of honeybees and wild bees to pollination (i.e. observational, open pollination). Most studies originate from North America, focusing on only a few cultivars. Honeybees are the dominant pollinator, and wild bees are occasionally abundant. Wild bees are more efficient pollinators on a single-visit basis compared to honeybees, which increases their relative pollination contribution compared to their relative abundance. Insect-mediated pollination services increased blueberry fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R2 values: 64.8%, 75.9% and 75.2% respectively). We often detected pollen limitation, indicated by an increase in fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R2: 10.1%, 18.2% and 21.5%, respectively), with additional hand pollination. Increasing visitation of honeybees and wild bees contributed to blueberry pollination by increasing fruit set (R2: 5.4% and 3.5%), berry weight (R2: 6.5% and 2.8%) and seed set (R2: 6.4% and 3.8%) respectively. Bee contributions to fruit set and berry weight were variable across regions. Synthesis and application: A diverse community of insects, primarily bees, contributes to highbush blueberry pollination and yield. However, pollination deficits are common. The finding that both honeybees and wild bees enhance pollination highlights the possibility of adopting different management strategies that utilize honeybees, wild bees or both depending on the specific context and region. This further emphasizes the general importance of conserving pollinator health and diversity. Our synthesis highlights data gaps and areas for future research to better understand the pollination contribution of different pollinators to crops that are expanding globally.
(Less)
- author
- Eeraerts, Maxime
; DeVetter, Lisa W.
; Batáry, Péter
; Ternest, John J.
; Mallinger, Rachel
; Arrington, Matthew
; Benjamin, Faye E.
; Blaauw, Brett R.
; Campbell, Joshua W.
; Cavigliasso, Pablo
; Daniels, Jaret C.
; de Groot, G. Arjen
; Ellis, James D.
; Gibbs, Jason
; Goldstein, Lauren
; Hoffman, George D.
; Kleijn, David
; Melathopoulos, Andony
; Miller, Sharron Z.
; Montero-Castaño, Ana
; Naranjo, Shiala M.
; Nicholson, Charlie C.
LU
; Perkins, Jacquelyn A.
; Rao, Sujaya
; Raine, Nigel E.
; Reilly, James R.
; Ricketts, Taylor H.
; Rogers, Emma
and Isaacs, Rufus
(Less) - organization
- publishing date
- 2023-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Apis mellifera, berry weight, fruit set, meta-analysis, seed set, systematic review, Vaccinium spp., yield
- in
- Journal of Applied Ecology
- volume
- 60
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85173696841
- ISSN
- 0021-8901
- DOI
- 10.1111/1365-2664.14516
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7e7bdf46-11b6-478d-b073-a64135f5abd3
- date added to LUP
- 2023-12-19 14:22:52
- date last changed
- 2023-12-21 16:29:20
@article{7e7bdf46-11b6-478d-b073-a64135f5abd3,
abstract = {{<p>Highbush blueberry production has expanded worldwide in recent decades. To safeguard future yields, it is essential to understand if insect pollination is limiting current blueberry production and which insects contribute to pollination in different production regions. We present a systematic review including a set of meta-analyses on insect-mediated pollination in highbush blueberry. We summarize the geographic distribution of research, the abundance of different pollinator taxa and their relative pollination contributions. Using raw data from 21 studies, totalling 496 site replicates, we determine the degree of pollination service and pollen limitation (i.e. combining open pollination levels with experimental bagged and/or hand pollination treatments), as well as the contribution of honeybees and wild bees to pollination (i.e. observational, open pollination). Most studies originate from North America, focusing on only a few cultivars. Honeybees are the dominant pollinator, and wild bees are occasionally abundant. Wild bees are more efficient pollinators on a single-visit basis compared to honeybees, which increases their relative pollination contribution compared to their relative abundance. Insect-mediated pollination services increased blueberry fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R<sup>2</sup> values: 64.8%, 75.9% and 75.2% respectively). We often detected pollen limitation, indicated by an increase in fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R<sup>2</sup>: 10.1%, 18.2% and 21.5%, respectively), with additional hand pollination. Increasing visitation of honeybees and wild bees contributed to blueberry pollination by increasing fruit set (R<sup>2</sup>: 5.4% and 3.5%), berry weight (R<sup>2</sup>: 6.5% and 2.8%) and seed set (R<sup>2</sup>: 6.4% and 3.8%) respectively. Bee contributions to fruit set and berry weight were variable across regions. Synthesis and application: A diverse community of insects, primarily bees, contributes to highbush blueberry pollination and yield. However, pollination deficits are common. The finding that both honeybees and wild bees enhance pollination highlights the possibility of adopting different management strategies that utilize honeybees, wild bees or both depending on the specific context and region. This further emphasizes the general importance of conserving pollinator health and diversity. Our synthesis highlights data gaps and areas for future research to better understand the pollination contribution of different pollinators to crops that are expanding globally.</p>}},
author = {{Eeraerts, Maxime and DeVetter, Lisa W. and Batáry, Péter and Ternest, John J. and Mallinger, Rachel and Arrington, Matthew and Benjamin, Faye E. and Blaauw, Brett R. and Campbell, Joshua W. and Cavigliasso, Pablo and Daniels, Jaret C. and de Groot, G. Arjen and Ellis, James D. and Gibbs, Jason and Goldstein, Lauren and Hoffman, George D. and Kleijn, David and Melathopoulos, Andony and Miller, Sharron Z. and Montero-Castaño, Ana and Naranjo, Shiala M. and Nicholson, Charlie C. and Perkins, Jacquelyn A. and Rao, Sujaya and Raine, Nigel E. and Reilly, James R. and Ricketts, Taylor H. and Rogers, Emma and Isaacs, Rufus}},
issn = {{0021-8901}},
keywords = {{Apis mellifera; berry weight; fruit set; meta-analysis; seed set; systematic review; Vaccinium spp.; yield}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{2528--2539}},
publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
series = {{Journal of Applied Ecology}},
title = {{Synthesis of highbush blueberry pollination research reveals region-specific differences in the contributions of honeybees and wild bees}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14516}},
doi = {{10.1111/1365-2664.14516}},
volume = {{60}},
year = {{2023}},
}